Raising High Blood Pressure Awareness

Because high blood pressure can happen to anyone at any age, routine check-ups and diagnostic exams can help prevent hypertension or put it under control with medication to lower systolic blood pressure if it already exists.

Research has found that certain conditions and factors contribute to developing high blood pressure, including habits, diet and lifestyle, but in some cases, the race of an individual or his/her geographic location is reflected in the incidence of people included in the statistics every year.

It is estimated that African-Americans are more prone to develop hypertension at an earlier age and more severe than whites, but medication to lower systolic blood pressure makes no distinction in race, helping to control hypertension efficiently.

Coincidentally, 11 Southeastern states in the United States are known as the "Stroke Belt States", due to the high number of strokes experienced by males and females of all races. Such states are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

High blood pressure contributes to strokes so it is not strange to see the large percentage of medication to lower systolic blood pressure prescribed in all those states, or the number of people who ignore they are suffering from hypertension, the "Silent Killer".

It is well known that alcohol and smoking contribute in the development of high blood pressure; however, the lack of physical activity is another major contributor to this condition. High cholesterol, being overweight and the high intake of sodium (salt) lead to hypertension, although heredity is another cause in the development

Women are at higher risk of this condition than men are, particularly African-American women who live in the Southeast of the United States , and women of any race and geographical location after menopause, when the risk of suffering from high blood pressure is complicated with other cardiovascular diseases.

Women who undergo a hysterectomy significantly increase faster health risks associated to hypertension, while woman using oral contraceptives should have their blood pressure closely monitored and controlled with medication to lower systolic blood pressure.

Chemicals produced by the uterus disappear after a hysterectomy, contributing with high blood pressure in women who increase their risk of stroke 10 to 15 times if, in addition, to if they smoke and have been using oral contraceptives.

Medication to lower systolic blood pressure is a good preventative measure for major health risks, particularly in older people. 60% of all Americans age 60 and older are prone to develop high blood pressure as they get older, that should not be considered as part of the natural healthy aging process, and must be treated.